Folding platform for harvesters



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-'Sheet 1.

s. F. VOORHEES. FOLDING PLATFORM POR HARVESTERS.

Patented'Sept. 2.7, Y1887.

N. PETERS. Phnwmhugmpher. wunngwm n. c

(No Model.) 2 sheets-"sheen 2.,

s. FQVOOR'HEBS. FOLDING PLATFORM FOR HARVESTERS.

No. 370,430.A Patented Sept.'271887'..

wit/meow@ I 51411014160@ M @512% @at/Comtat@ I STEPHEN F. VOORHEES,

ATENT OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING PLATFORM FOR HARVESTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,430, dated September 27, 1887,

Application filed October 16, 1886. Serial No. 216.437. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern..-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN F. Voonnnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement ,in Folding Platforms for Grain Harvesters and Binders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in folding platforms for harvesters; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

This invention is an improvement upon that described in my pending application for Letters Patent of the United States, No. 209,391; and the object of my present improvement is to provide a harvester or binder platform with a hinged joint, whereby that portion of the platform carrying the cutting apparatus may be moved to avertical position and then swung around to oneside of that portion of the platform carrying the usual gear-wheels, and secured thereto, thus reducing the excessive width of the binder or harvester and enabling the same to be readily transported along an ordinary country road, over narrow bridges, and through gateways, thus greatly facilitating the transportation ofthe binder or harvester from one farm to another.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a harvester-platform embodying my improvements, showing in solid lines the same extended to its full width, and showing in dotted lines the platform-frame carrying the cutting apparatus folded against the side of the main frame carrying the gear.- wheels. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of portions of my improved platform, showing the hinge-joint. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of a machine embodying my improvements, showing the platformframe in a raised position.

A represents the front portion of a harvester or binder, the remaining portions of the machine being omitted, for the reason that they are of the usual construction and form no part of my present improvements.

C represents the main frame, and B represents the platform-frame. The latter has the' usual cutting apparatus, and in the main frame is journaled the driving and supporting wheel D;

The gear-wheels usually employed to transmit the power from the wheel D to the various portions of the machine are also journaled in the main frame C, but are not shown in the accompanying drawings, for the reason that they form no part of my invention. The grain side of the main frame C has on its lower side f a bar, E, the ends of which are provided with laterally-extending flanges or shoulders E, which project under the platform-frame B at its stubble side when the latter is extended and in its horizontal position, and serve to support the inner end of the same. On the upper side of the bar E is a keeper, E2.

F represents supporting-arms which extend horizontally from the front and rear sides of the main frame O beyond the inner side thereof. The said supporting-arms are secured to the main frame O by means of bolts, or by any other suitable means that will enable the arms to be readily detached when necessary.

, G represents a pair of hook-rods, which are j pivotedl to the inclined frame H above the main frame C, and the function of which will be hereinafter explained. From the outer side of the platform-frame B, at the center thereof, projects a spindle, I, upon which is j ournaled a supporting-wheel, K, which is smaller than the wheel D, and the function of which is to support the outer end or section of the platform to prevent it from dragging on the ground when ,the platform-frame B is extended outwardly from the main frame C, as shown in solid lines in Fig. l.,

To the rear side of the platform-frame B, at the center thereof, is secured a bracket, L, having an arm, M, that projects from the rear side of the platform-frame B and at right angles thereto. The rear side of the platformframe B is also provided with keepers N.

O represents eyes or keepers that are attached to the under side of the front bar of the platform-frame B, and P represents an arm or tongue that projects from the inner side of the platform-frame B and engages the keeper E2 of themain frame C, as shown.

B represents the hinge which connects the platform-frame and the main frame together.

ICO

The said hinge has two arms, It and R2, which are pivoted together. The arm R is bolted to the rear under side of the main frame C, and the arm R2 is secured in keepers S, attached to the under rear side of the platform-frame B. The outer end of the arm R2 is provided with an enlarged head, It, to prevent it from being withdrawn from the keepers. From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the platform-frame B is free to turn and to slide upon the arm It of the hinge.

The operation of myinvention is as follows: `hen it is desired to transport the machine, the wheel K is first taken from the spindle I. The platform-frame B is then moved outwardly on the arm R2 far enough to disengage the arm or tongue P from the keeper FP. The platform-frame B is then turned vertically upon the arm R2 of the hinge, and is then swung forward against the grain side of the main frame C and rests upon the supporting-arms F. It is then moved rearwardly on the arm R2 of the hinge until ythe keepers N align with the arms F and the latter are caused to engage the said keepers and prevent further movement of the platform-frame B. The hook-rods are then engaged with the eyes O, thereby securing the platform-frame B firmly in a vertical position. The Wheel K is then attached to the arm M of the bracket L by means of a spindle, S', which passes th rough the said arm M and has a clamp- Having thus described my invention, I

claim- 1. The combination of the main frame, the supporting-arms F, projecting from one side thereof, the arm B2,hinged to the main frame, the platform-frame having the keepers N to receive the arms F, and means to hinge the platform-frame to the arm R2, so that it may turn or slide on said arm, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the main frame, the arm B2, hinged thereto, the keeper E2, secured to the main frame, the platform-frame, means to hinge the same to the arm R2, so that the platform-frame may slide on the said arm and turn thereon, and thetongue P,attached to the platform-frame, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afXed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN F. VOORHEES. 

